[General] MedicAlert Jewelry

tbh

Howdy Folks -

Does anyone here wear medic alert jewelry? I just got a bracelet and it's hanging off me, I feel like a diabetic pimp

Does anyone know of a good source? I'd prefer to wear a dog-tag style thing rather than a bracelet, kinda feel I should be wearing something just in case.

europerson

I don't wear a diabetic identity-tag, but I have a special card as soon as you open my wallet. I couldn't bring myself to wear jewellery other than a watch and cufflinks at all. Perhaps a wedding ring, if that day comes.

robinph

I have an SOS thingy on a chain round my neck and I can then update the details on a bit of paper inside it when needed about what I drugs I'm on and contact numbers etc. I also have an "I'm a diabetic card" in my wallet.

Trinity

tbh wrote:

Howdy Folks -

Does anyone here wear medic alert jewelry? I just got a bracelet and it's hanging off me, I feel like a diabetic pimp

Does anyone know of a good source? I'd prefer to wear a dog-tag style thing rather than a bracelet, kinda feel I should be wearing something just in case.

I thought i saw these in a lot of larger chemists. Or perhaps you were thinking of something more fancy? Perhaps you could get your own made up on the cheap/

Think temple bar has a place/stall that makes jewellery.

tbh

I'm not really a jewlry fan, I've bought a couple of the bracelets, but I could only wear them if they were tight on me, and they are really loose - it's really annoying. The pendent is a better bet, but they are usually too long - I wouldn't mind one of the sos things -I did have one before, they have the little "accordian" pieces of paper inside? I lost it

I'm beginning to think there is a market for diabetic accessiories - bags for kit - sharps bins, tags etc...if only I had an ounce of talent. or ambition

Star Lord

I like the sound of the "dog tag" or the SOS things, can anyone tell me where ya can get them? I'm not a diabetic, but I am on medication that I need to take every day...

robinph

tbh wrote:

I wouldn't mind one of the sos things -I did have one before, they have the little "accordian" pieces of paper inside? I lost it

I printed out my own version of that bit of paper from a word template seeing as I have had to change details on it several times, you can also add in more relavent details on it then rather than what they give as the default options to fill in.

DamoElDiablo wrote:

I like the sound of the "dog tag" or the SOS things, can anyone tell me where ya can get them?

The only place in Dublin that I found selling the SOS pendant things was a shop on the corner between Kevin Street and Aungier Street, I cannot remember the name of it though but it seemed to sell all sorts of special medical accessories.

tbh

I know the one you mean, but I think it's closed down now - can't remember the name of it either....

frodi

It was Fannins on Redmonds Hill. There is a pharmacy there now called O'Hora's I think. They do a lot of what Fannins did.

tbh

THANK YOU! that was wrecking my head. I've just popped into the pharmacy once, but it didn't seem to have much - didn't have a good look tho. It's not just here, I've been all over the place, and always look in any pharmacies I pass - never really seen anything tho. Dragons den anyone??!?

CathyMoran

What I did once was get my diabetic details inscribed on the back of regular jewlery, might not work for a lot of people but it worked for me. I currently carry a diabetic card with me and also have my meds with me at all time, I know that I should wear the jewlery too, will have to sort that out again.

JasperKat

I used to wear an SOS bracelet & tg I did too, i've had epilepsy for years (last fit was yrs ago thankfully) & when in the uk i had a fit in the middle of a pedestrian crossing - luckily a nurse was walking by & knew what to do & understood my problem after reading the SOS info.

I know I shld still wear the bracelet *hangs head in shame*:o & I think you can buy them online from a place in the uk.

Jasper

Alanstrainor

Yeah, i used to have a medi alert bracelet when i was younger but just stopped wearing them, i really should have one though. i think my pump would be a dead give away though, but yeah i really should get something. Dog tags that looked alright wouldn't be too shabby.
Edit: I'm diabetic...hence the pump...but Anyway.

DrIndy

Medic alert bracelets are a life saver. If you ever get into any trouble and land in A&E, it saves us medics farting about for a while doing all sorts of tests to figure out whats happened and instead we can cut straight to the chase.

There are loads of options out there, wearing something on your body is better in many ways than your wallet as its harder to miss.

lucernarian

I have an ordinary bracelet with "diabetic" written on one side, and a contact number on the other (not my own!). The problem is, no one would think it's a medical bracelet as it looks for all the world like a piece of bling.

Do medics ever overlook bracelets like that?

DrIndy

You always would look at a bracelet or indeed anything if someone came in unconcious - surgical scars are another way to guess what people have had done with themselves.

sunny2004

Are these what you had in mind ??

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=unknown&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=medical+alert&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=Postcode&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

aidan.connolly

Hi, I know this is an old item, but if you are still looking for Medical Alert Jewellery, check out this Irish Company <pm me for details>. They supply fashionable, quality Medical Alert Jewellery

tbh

ok, see this is a conflict for me, because on the one hand, you are answering my question, but on the other, you're shilling your company, which isn't allowed. So I tell you what I'll do. If anyone wants to know the name of your website, they can pm you, is that ok? Well, I ask if it's ok, but really it's not a choice If I've got it wrong, and you've nothing to do with the company, let me know.

Alanstrainor

I know the poster above is "pimping" his whereaz, but cheers anyway, i've been searching for a "sports band" for running for ages that isn't ebay tat, so i think ill give them a go.

tbh

in fairness, I took a look and it seems like there's some decent stuff there. And I 'm pretty sure Aidan is small business and not a soulless megacorp spamming millions of websites. but rules is rules.

Alanstrainor

Yeah definitely, nice to see a compromise instead of a ban, cheers tbh.

aidan.connolly

Hi, I am new to this kind of message boards stuff.
Yes it is my company, a new business, didn't intend to break any rules. Sorry about that.
Company set up because I could not find similiar products in Ireland, a couple of years ago, when I went looking.

tbh

no problem Aidan, best of luck with the business. I'm sure there would be no problem letting you advertise if you were to say give boardsies a discount?

tbh

Ok, following a very pleasant chat with Aidan over PM, I'm happy to let him post his site because he's offered boardsies a 10% discount on all products execpt postage and packaging. We get a good deal, and an Irish business gets...well..business

Anyway, the url is http://www.icemedicaljewellery.ie/ and to get your discount, enter the code BRD123 when you get to the checkout page.

Thanks Aidan!

tbh.

Alanstrainor

Sweet i think i'll be putting in an order at some stage tonight for a sports band. Thanks Aiden.

nesf

DrIndy wrote: »

Medic alert bracelets are a life saver. If you ever get into any trouble and land in A&E, it saves us medics farting about for a while doing all sorts of tests to figure out whats happened and instead we can cut straight to the chase.

Out of interest, what conditions are they useful for? I've no long term general health problems thankfully but I am on an unusual combination of psychiatric medication each day and there's enough of them that my GP describes me as a person she doesn't want to give extra drugs unless she has to, because the polypharmacology is too complicated as is and the interactions/side effects could be very difficult to predict in my case.

It's not that I'm likely to have to go to hospital because of my condition but should I carry something in my wallet with my prescription in case I'm unconscious after a crash or something?

aidan.connolly

Hi,

The range of Medical Alert Jewellery can cover most medical conditions for example Cardiac, Diabetes, Asthma, Anaphylaxis (Life threatening reaction to an allergen e.g. nuts) etc.
The Medical condition is engraved on the back of the piece with a next of kin contact number if required.

As regards whether you should carry a card detailing you particular condition, that is more a question for your GP.

Regards

robinph

It wouldn't do any harm to have something in your wallet detailing what concoction of drugs your currently on, and as that might be changing it would be easier to keep up to date than something that is engraved with just the name of a particular condition on it.

nesf

robinph wrote: »

It wouldn't do any harm to have something in your wallet detailing what concoction of drugs your currently on, and as that might be changing it would be easier to keep up to date than something that is engraved with just the name of a particular condition on it.

Yeah my drugs change often enough that getting an engraved thing would be pointless. It could be out of date within a month.

robinph

I have one of these and then just re-print out my own version of the strip of paper folded up inside it whenever my drugs/ GP/ address or who I feel like putting down as my next of kin changes.

nesf

robinph wrote: »

I have one of these and then just re-print out my own version of the strip of paper folded up inside it whenever my drugs/ GP/ address or who I feel like putting down as my next of kin changes.

Yeah, I'm just unsure if it's necessary or not. I can appreciate why certain conditions would require it but I don't know if being on medication alone is a reason to carry your prescription around on you.

I know I'm straying into medical advice territory here but I'm not asking for specific advice per se, more whether carrying out something like this would be general advice for anyone on medication or just applicable to people with specific conditions whose drugs or condition need to be known before any medical treatment can be given to them.

tbh

i suppose at the end of the day it can't do any harm, although it might not necessarily save you life, it could save time one day.

aidan.connolly

Hi, yes I would agree with "robinph" , for your medications the wearing of an SOS Tallisman might be a good solution.
In the event of an emergency, every piece of information helps.

positron

Excellent thread.

We bought a cheap bracelet and got it engraved for my fiancée. Epileptic on on side and my phone number on the other. She also carries a days doze of medicines in her handbag, just in case the train breaks down or flights gets canceled or whatever.

I am starting to wonder is there (should there not?) be some sort of body that comes with a global standard and recommends sufferers and medics on it... I know it sounds a bit extreme, but I would think even a small chip inserted under the skin with pin linked to a universal db that carries info on partial medical history of the wearer, medicines and dosage, allergies, GP details and emergency contact details etc would, IMHO, help up to an extend.

LegacyUser

If the chain on your medic alert bracelet or pendant is too long, take it into a jeweler, who will remove some links for you. You will be given them back, just in case you need the chain re-adjusted.

LegacyUser

positron wrote: »

Excellent thread.
I am starting to wonder is there (should there not?) be some sort of body that comes with a global standard and recommends sufferers and medics on it... I know it sounds a bit extreme, but I would think even a small chip inserted under the skin with pin linked to a universal db that carries info on partial medical history of the wearer, medicines and dosage, allergies, GP details and emergency contact details etc would, IMHO, help up to an extend.

I joined the Medic Alert Foundation years ago (no longer a member). They collect your details - including contact and doctor etc, and your bracelet comes with a unique identification number, and their telephone number, as well as the "alert". I think the theory is that if you are unconscious, the hospital can ring the Foundation, who can pass on the rest of the necessary details, not written on your bracelet. Unfortunately you have to pay an annual fee to them...

robinph

The medic alert thing is a good idea, but in my case there would generally be no need for me to get as far as a hospital. If found lying on the floor then somone just needs to throw a bag of sugar in my general direction and I'll be up and about again in a couple of minutes, so actually having the medical condition itself on the ID can be better than a code for the hospital to then call in some cases.

bionic.laura

I think they're useful. I know a couple of medics and they say if you are a young person they would assume you don't have any conditions so having a bracelet is useful.
I have a pacemaker and a few drug allergies so I usually wear one when I'm out and about. I have a wallet card but I'm not sure they would find that. It gives you some peace of mind.

Delphi91

Here's an option that I came across recently - contemplating getting one myself, even though I was recently sent a card by my consultant/surgeon detailing what he installed last December. But it doesn't contain my medication, so I might pick up one of these: http://www.medipal.org.uk/

Mike

aidan.connolly

Hi,
It might be a good option to have both the card and the medical alert bracelet. The medical alert bracelet could give details of the main medical condition and make a reference that you are carrying a card. Just a suggestion.
Paramedics are trained to check around the neck and wrist ( pulse points).

Good luck

melanie2009

Hi what about the Diabetic Association, I got a special bag thingy for taking my insulin abroad to hot countries, it remains cold for a period. I must say I haven't checked their website yet.

My medic alert bracelet which was quite tight wore away, I must have had it for 20 years, so I'm in the market again, will check out Diabetic Association now

Odysseus

I used to do a lot of unusal sports desert running, parachuting, paragliding etc. My ex bought me a good solid sivler set of dog tags a few years back. I just have basic info name, DOB, Blood group, but within limitations you can put what you need on them.